News

03.23.2020

Madison Park Development Corporation​ has been monitoring the guidance from the public health community designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 and taking measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all our staff, residents, program participants, and partners.

In response to directives from the City and State, MPDC has suspended all programming and closed our office, The Dewitt Center,​ and Hibernian Hall​ to the public until further notice. We will continue to monitor new information in order to decide when to re-open these spaces and resume programming. We will keep you updated on any new information in the coming weeks.

We will be sending bi-weekly emails comprised of updates, digital event announcements, and a variety of COVID-19 related resources.

See our previous resource emails

The City of Boston has a free texting service to provide daily updates and information about the coronavirus. Text BOSCOVID to 99411 to opt-in for English. Language and communications access remain a priority for Mayor Walsh, so this text service is also available in Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, Cabo Verdean Creole, and Portuguese:

While City Hall is still open and running, to reduce exposure, they discourage anyone from coming in unless you have an urgent need for services that cannot be done by phone or online. If you have questions, call the City’s hotline at 311 to get connected to a department.

Residents are asked not to call 911 unless they are experiencing a medical emergency. All COVID-19 questions should be directed to the Mayor’s Health Line at 617-534-5050 or 311.

COVID-19 Facts & Resource Booklet

The City of Boston has developed a comprehensive Coronavirus Facts and Resources Booklet. The booklet includes information related to safety and reliable information related to COVID-19 in multiple languages. For many of us, sometimes finding reliable information in languages that reflect our community can be difficult. We hope that this resource can help to address some of the misinformation around COVID-19 and empower residents to take charge of their own safety for themselves and their loved ones. Please share it with your constituencies, providers, and partners.

COVID-19 Testing Facilities

Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) launched a new mapping tool to help Boston residents find locations offering COVID-19 testing. The City of Boston is partnering with community health centers to increase access to testing, particularly in neighborhoods experiencing higher rates of COVID-19.

Fill out the 2020 Census. The 2020 Census is happening now and only 16.7 percent of households have responded. The Census informs how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years. It’s more critical than ever to ensure that all Bostonians are counted.

In light of the current public health emergency due to COVID-19, there has been an outpouring of support from the residents of Boston. The City of Boston under Mayor Walsh is coordinating volunteers who are looking to help and connecting them to future outreach and volunteer opportunities.

The health and safety of everyone is their first priority. They ask that potential volunteers be aware of their own health before signing up to help. If you do not feel well, have a temperature, or are exhibiting any symptoms please do NOT sign up to volunteer. If you have questions about your fitness or ability to volunteer, please contact your doctor.

Please fill out this questionnaire and as the situation continues to evolve you will be notified of opportunities as they arise.

The City of Boston has been reaching out to veterans service providers and residential homes in Boston, to help them mitigate any risk and address concerns they have. Veterans and their family members can call 311 or email veterans@boston.gov to be connected to the City’s Office of Veterans Services.

The City of Boston has also created a Pen Pal Program for veterans who may be feeling social isolation. They are working to identify those veterans now and match them with volunteers who will check in with them periodically. If you would like to volunteer to be a pen pal, please email vetvolunteer@boston.gov.

Boston Transportation Department

Are you a Roxbury resident? The City of Boston wants to hear from you.

The City is building a long-term transportation plan for projects in your neighborhood, and the Boston Transportation Department is using resident feedback to inform its decisions.

o Wear a face covering if you absolutely must go outside. Face covers help reduce the risk of a person spreading the virus, especially if they are asymptomatic. Visit CDC guidelines on face coverings for more information and guidance.

o Observe the recommended curfew for everyone in Boston except for essential workers to stay at home from 9 pm to 6 am daily

o Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol; avoid shaking hands

o Cover your coughs and sneezes; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and avoid close contact with people who are sick.

o If you think you might be sick, please call your doctor or 311 to be connected to the Mayor’s Health Line 617-534-5050. Buoy Health has created a free online diagnostic tool that screens for COVID19 at buoy.com/mass.

o Fill out the 2020 Census. The Census informs how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local, and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years. It’s more critical than ever to ensure that all Bostonians are counted.

A resource from the City of Boston that is geared towards supporting the senior population in some of their needs due to COVID-19. It offers a similar service as a mutual aid group, albeit a bit more formally.

Phase One of the reopening will include some retail operators. Hotels and restaurants will follow in Phase Two (with restrictions). Performance venues, museums, and bars will be a part of Phase Three, while the largest venues (arenas, clubs, stadiums) will not be permitted to reopen until Phase Four. The transition between phases will be predicated on a series of public health and testing metrics.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced that it will ask passengers to board buses through the back door, a policy change that will effectively make trips free and is meant to separate riders from drivers to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The T typically requires all riders to enter through the front door, where they tap plastic fare cards or insert cash to pay for their trips, putting riders face-to-face with drivers. Now, nearly all riders will be directed to the back, where they won’t have to pay.

The new rules will also apply to the above-ground stops on the Green Line and the Mattapan trolley line, which have operators at the front of vehicles. Riders who enter stations with fare gates will still pay fares.

“The MBTA is undertaking these measures to protect our frontline employees while maintaining regional mobility for essential trips by healthcare workers and emergency responders,” MBTA general manager Steve Poftak said in a statement.

Passengers with disabilities and the elderly will still be allowed to use front entrances, which have ramps to help riders board more easily.

The Boston Cyclists Union

BCU and Wagner Foundation have partnered with the Bluebikes program to provide limited-income individuals with subsidized annual passes to Greater Boston’s bike-share program. The subsidized Bluebikes passes cost just $5, versus $100 for a standard annual pass, in order to improve access to an affordable, healthy and socially distant mode of travel. The Boston Cyclists Union pass program is also distinguished from Bluebikes’ own income-eligible program by further subsidy (from $50 to $5 annual cost) and additional flexibility to enroll online in order to limit in-person interactions this season.

People will qualify for the program if they receive a form of public benefits such as MassHealth, Food stamps, SSI/SSDI, etc, or are under 400% of the Federal Poverty level (see below). Their program does not require individuals to produce written proof of income level.

-BCU only has 150 passes and expects they will go quickly so they encourage people to sign up ASAP if they are interested.

-Currently, they require a credit or debit card to sign up but we hope soon as restrictions open up to have an in-person cash option.

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State Representative Liz Miranda

State Representative Liz Miranda’s Community Care Response Team is working hard to partner people in the 5th Suffolk district of Roxbury and Dorchester with the services we all need to deal with the effects of COVID-19.

Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins

In an effort to support the community and our partners, the Juvenile Alternative Resolution Program (JAR) staff of the Juvenile Unit at The Office of Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins, has compiled a guide containing an extensive list of resources available for those who may be struggling with issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic across Suffolk County.

State Representative Chynah Tyler

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Attorney General Maura Healey

Attorney General Maura Healey announced that her office has filed an emergency regulation designed to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive debt collection practices during the COVID-19 crisis. This emergency regulation will remain in effect for 90 days or until the conclusion of the declared state of emergency.

Boston City Councilor At-Large Annissa Essaibi George

Madison Park Development Corporation / Census 2020

MPDC is proud to be a Census 2020 Partner!

From mid-March until the end of July, the 2020 Federal Census will take place. This is Boston’s once in a decade opportunity to get its fair share of billions in federal funding to support public resources and services. The 2020 Federal Census will also determine our political representation from Congress to the City Council. As you may know, much of the funding that comes from the Census count helps the most vulnerable among us. It provides, for instance, healthcare, public education, food and nutrition programs, affordable housing, and child care for low-income families.

MPDC is proud to be a member of the Mass Counts Committee! We work with MA Voter Table along with other area partners to ensure our communities have an accurate count! Find out more at http://mavotertable.org/

WHY CENSUS 2020 MATTERS TO ROXBURY

Additional Census 2020 Resources

Learn all about the importance of the 2020 Census (in various languages) here. Check out the 2020 Census response rates by city at https://www.censushardtocountmaps2020.us/ for posts on the city’s response rate and what’s at stake in the city.

Beginning March 1, 2020, the English and Spanish language lines will be available to provide general information about the 2020 Census, including answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), via an automated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system.

Callers to these lines will also be advised to call back starting March 9, 2020 to speak with a live customer service representative (CSR). Callers to all other language lines will hear the message to call back starting March 9, 2020, to speak with a live CSR.

Beginning March 9, 2020, all lines will begin live CSR support providing information about the 2020 Census and assistance with the questionnaire.

Callers to the English and Spanish language lines will be routed through the IVR system prior to being transferred to a CSR. Callers to all other language lines will be greeted in that language by a CSR.

2) Can I answer the questionnaire without the code in the Invitation to Respond?

Yes! Visit my2020census.gov to complete the questionnaire with or without a code.

3) Will my geographic area receive the paper form first or only the invitation to respond?

Look at the Mail Contact Strategies Viewer — if your census tracts are in green then your area will receive the invitation to respond and the paper questionnaire in the first mailing. Remember, anyone who does not respond by phone or online will receive a paper questionnaire as part of their 4th mailing.

4) I like the paper questionnaire. Will I need to pay to mail it back?

No, it has postage on the return envelope and is ready to mail.

5) What if more than 10 people are in my household?

It is best to answer online or by phone for a larger household as you may include up to 99 people in your response.

8) Will the Census Bureau provide staff at my agency to help my community complete the census?

They are staffing Census Response Representatives (CRR) mostly in areas predicted to have a low response rate from March 12 through March 30th. After March 30th, we will deploy CRRs only in areas of low self-response for Mobile Questionnaire Assistance.

Census Disinformation Resources

Disinformation is false or misleading information that has been intentionally designed to confuse and manipulate the public. The best way to inoculate against disinformation around the 2020 Census is to uplift positive messages about the importance of census participation. This recent webinar explains how to track, assess, report and respond to census mis/disinformation. Additional resources:

Mutual Aid for Roxbury & Jamaica Plain

Mutual aid is a powerful way to build strong connections – we all have something to offer and we all have something we need.

1. If you are looking for help:

Find your nearest Neighborhood Point Person on this map, and reach out to them for support here. They are here to help connect you with what you need.

Look at the Offerings Spreadsheet, to see if someone is already offering the help that you need, and reach out to them! If you do not see what you need on this spreadsheet, you can add your information to this Needs List and someone from the core team will follow up. You can also use the Needs List if you’re not comfortable reaching out to someone directly.

If you’d prefer not to add your name and contact information on the public spreadsheet, you can email Mutual Aid at mutualaidjamaicaplain@gmail.com with your request and they can add it to the sheet for you anonymously.

There is no ask that is too big and no one will ever be shamed for asking for what they need.

This spreadsheet (which is public and non-editable) is where you can then see the resources, skills, etc. that community members (including you!) have offered to share. Using information from this public spreadsheet, others can reach out to you directly for support.

After you’ve filled out the form offering help, please periodically check the Needs List, which will be updated regularly. Reach out directly to anyone you are able to help, and keep Mutual Aid updated via email about that communication!

After you’ve offered help, if something changes and your information needs to be edited, email Mutual Aid at mutualaidjamaicaplain@gmail.com. For example, if you’ve completed a request from someone, we can remove your name or a part of your response so that you won’t receive more requests for help you can no longer offer.

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Boston.com

Boston.com is launching an initiative called Boston Helps, a place with links where one can request help, or offer it. The page also has links for ways that you can help contribute to efforts such as donations and more.

This weekly email includes events, trainings, jobs, meetings, and resources specific to violence prevention and more generally of interest to the Boston community. The email is a collation of items aims to inform one another of Boston resources, as well as promote collaboration without ‘reinventing the wheel.’

On May 4th, Mayor Walsh discussed new food benefits for families and on-going programs that serve seniors in Boston.

o Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) is a special food benefit authorized by the federal coronavirus bill. It’s available for all Boston Public Schools and Charter School students while schools are closed. Households will receive $5.70 per child per school day for the duration of school closures—or $28.50 a week per child. If families currently receive SNAP benefits, the P-EBT will be added to their cards. If families aren’t enrolled, they will get cards sent to them in the mail. Some families may have gotten their benefits last week, and everyone else can expect to receive theirs in the coming weeks.

o Using P-EBT benefits does not impact any adult or child’s immigration status, and the Public Charge rule does not apply to P-EBT benefits.

o If families have questions about P-EBT, SNAP, WIC or other food resources, they can call Project Bread’s Hotline at 1-800-645-8333. They can also contact the city’s Office of Food Access at 617-635-3717 or by email at food@boston.gov.

o The City of Boston also continues to operate 65 youth-oriented meal sites, which are open every weekday with weekend meals available on Friday. Eight of these sites serve youth and adults in East Boston, Dorchester, South Boston, Mattapan, and Brighton, Mission Hill and Egleston Square, which is easily accessible from Roxbury and JP. By the end of this week, we will have added an additional 8 sites in East Boston, Charlestown, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and Roxbury, almost doubling the number of meals available to adults. The City of Boston has served more than740,000 meals at its meal sites so far. For hours and locations, visit the Food Resources Map on Boston.gov or call 3-1-1.

o We continue to serve seniors through the Meals on Wheels program. Last week over 58,000 meals were distributed, representing a 33% increase from the pre-COVID levels.

o The City of Boston is launching a new food program with the Greater Boston Food Bank, Boston Public Schools, the Boston Housing Authority, and the Age Strong Commission. This week, they will distribute 2,400 boxes of food to households in need within the Boston Housing Authority and at others identified by the Age Strong Commission.

o Mayor Walsh thanked all of the partners who have helped make this happen, including volunteers with the Building Trades, the Boston Housing Authority, and the Newmarket Business Association.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)

InP-EBT, or Pandemic EBT, is a federal program. The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), in collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), received approval to operate this program in response to the COVID-19 related school closures. P-EBT provides food supports to help families with children who were receiving free and reduced-price school meals pay for food.

In their ongoing efforts to assist our community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Elevate Boston in partnership with Wilahmena’s Place and The Breakfast Spot are helping to fight food insecurity by providing families in need with food care packages, toiletries, and essential information.

Grab and Go Foodcare Packages are available for pick up Tuesdays and Fridays from 12pm-3pm at 1544 Columbus Ave, Roxbury.

With school closures due to COVID-19 outbreak, many schools and community partners are preparing to make meals available to students when school is closed.

For the most up-to-date information Project Bread has available, please visit this link or view a map of locations below or via this link . Please be aware that plans are continuously changing, so continue checking back if you do not find any meals for your community.

For more information and to learn of other food assistance resources available, please contact Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline. The FoodSource Hotline can be reached at 800-645-8333 from 8 am-7 pm Monday-Friday, and Saturdays from 10 am-2 pm, and can provide information in 160 languages through their Language Line.

While families should always take precautions when venturing out to meal sites, schools and meal providers are following every safety protocol and best practices for social distancing at meal sites to combat the spread of disease. To ensure the safety of everyone, if parents or children are experiencing symptoms, they are asked not to attend meal sites and to reach out to their school district for assistance in accessing meals.

Social distancing is important in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but staying home is not always fun or easy. During these stressful times, it is more important than ever to take care of ourselves and those around us. CopeCode Club is a campaign that supports Boston youth in identifying healthy ways to cope with feelings that stressful situations like the COVID-19 response produce. Over the next several weeks, youth are invited to join others across the city in practicing positive coping skills from the comfort of your own home.

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Boston Public Schools

BPS will be sending out an email to each family (student and or parent) to set up a time to pick up their Chrome Books. Learn more here.

Boston Public Schools will begin distributing free art kits to families with BPS students. Each family will receive one kit. Each kit will be distributed on a first come first serve basis.

The participating sites are listed below.

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Department of Early Education / Emergency Exempt Childcare

To slow the spread of coronavirus, Governor Baker issued an emergency order on March 18 temporarily closing all early childhood education programs across the State of Massachusetts. All families should keep children out of group care settings to the greatest extent possible. Emergency Child Care Programs are for when all other non-group-care settings have been exhausted and families have no other options.

This closure applies to all center-based and family child care programs. It does not apply to residential schools, community group homes, temporary shelters, transition-to-independent living facilities, teen parent programs, and DYS secure facilities.

Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs will be the only child care programs that are allowed to operate during this time. This prioritizes public health and safety while maintaining critical service.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH)

Accessing Early Intervention Tele-Health visit

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) issued emergency guidance allowing early intervention agencies to provide services to children and families using phone/video communication. These services are referred to as “tele-health services”. Due to the current state of emergency and unknown time frame that social distancing will be recommended, families are highly encouraged to continue participating in early intervention using the tele-health model. Click here to learn more about tele-health visits from Thom Child & Family Services.

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Madison Park Development Corporation

MPDC is offering virtual HiSET preparation!

If you are interested in preparing for the HiSET exam, we are offering free online preparation for students 17-24 in all five testing areas (Math, Science, Reading, Writing, and Social Studies) virtually. If you are interested and want to hear more? Please visit https://bit.ly/MPDCHISET and fill out our referral form and one of our staff will contact you.

Roxbury Prep has been focusing on making sure all students and families are safe and continue to get a quality education. Therefore, Roxbury Prep has put together a robust Remote Learning Plan and they are providing this material as an Open Source resource for all families during the school closure period. K-8 instruction can be accessed and shared via their website.

Community Online Academies (COAs) are virtual full days of learning/development and health/wellness for kids and adults – taught by the highest quality teachers, instructors, speakers, from the community.

Attendees can dial into as many or as few sessions as they like – full-day participation is not required.

Activities for Children during COVID-19

The Ultimate Parent Lockdown Guide

Parents, Boston Magazine knows you’re stressed. With schools closed and social contact discouraged, it’s hard to think of ways to keep the kids active, entertained, and educated. That’s why they put together this guide to getting through a lockdown with your little ones.

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Parenting Journey – It Takes a Village Emergency Fund

Make a request to Parenting Journey’s It Takes a Village emergency fund. The rapid spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has turned life as we know it on its head. Families are struggling to make ends meet. Parents and families can request a stipend to help ease some of the financial burdens you are experiencing during these unprecedented times. This money will be delivered in the form of an online gift card. If you would like to request access to these funds, please fill out this form.

Playworks has created a video library of interactive games to encourage physical activity to help mitigate stress and anxiety and promote safe and fun play. Playworks also recently launched a live virtual recess that happens Monday through Friday at three different times a day. If you do try it out feel free to give them a shout out with #PlayAtHome or @PlayworksNewEngland on social media. More information on both opportunities below:

Mass Mentoring

The KELLY Award is an educational gift of $20,000 that will be awarded to a young person, nominated by a positive youth-adult role model in their life. Payable over 4 years, it will support a wide spectrum of educational pursuits. Apply by May 22nd.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Boston is offering a FREE support group for parents and caregivers of young children in SPANISH!

Their groups are going to meet every weekday from 10-11 am. NO REGISTRATION needed. They are primarily interested in reaching parents of children 0-5 years of age but will be so happy to have anyone who needs the support join us. Groups are all online via Zoom and phone.

As always, the Center for Early Relationship Support continues to provide FREE support groups to New Parents which are now all accessible via zoom or phone. Here is a link to those groups:

Just because school is out doesn’t mean you have to stop learning. Every day, BNN will be Live with homework help, reading, math, and science for elementary and pre-school aged children. Make sure to check it out on bnnmedia.org Comcast 9 | RCN 15 | Verizon 1961

Several college-bound applicants from Roxbury are selected annually by MPDC to receive scholarships ranging from $250 to $3,500 toward each recipient’s college tuition and expenses. MPDC’s college scholarship program was established by a bequest from the estate of Ralph Smith, our co-founder and first Executive Director, and a gift made in honor of Danette Jones, our second Executive Director. These scholarships make a meaningful difference in the lives of our young residents.

The City of Boston recently updated Boston.gov/recovery with online recovery support resources. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use, you can call 311 (or (617) 635-4500) to access recovery services.

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Boston Public Health Commission

The Mayor’s Health Line is a free, confidential, multilingual information and referral service. ​We help and welcome all residents regardless of immigration status. If you or your family needs legal assistance we provide referrals to legal services. 617-825-5000

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Massachusetts Department of Public Health

“As the United States surges with COVID-19 cases, black communities are already besieged with disproportionate rates of illness and exacerbated consequences, including hospitalization and death. According to city data, 40% of those who are diagnosed with COVID-19 in Boston are African American or black, yet that population only makes up 20% of the city’s population. A similar trend is being reported in other states across the country, according to preliminary findings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

Given everything that’s happening with the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever it’s important for community members to adhere to their prescribed medications. FamilyWize has become critically important during this crisis.

CVS and Walgreens (could be others too) are providing free delivery of prescription medications. Therefore, when people call in to get a script filled or refilled, they can ask that the FamilyWize discount be applied by providing them the following information that is on the FamilyWize card (see below). Since they do not require registration, there is no need for clients to physically show a card.

BIN: 610194

Card ID: FW100

Group ID: FW100

PCN: FW

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BAGLY

During this time of unprecedented uncertainty, BAGLY remains steadfast in their commitment to support LGBTQ+ youth through thick and thin.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The Disaster Distress Helpline can provide immediate counseling to anyone who needs help in coping with the mental or emotional effects caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic

Call 1-800-985-5990 Text “TalkWithUs” to 66746

The Samaritans

Samaritans has been closely monitoring the situation around the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) including guidelines from the CDC and the MA Department of Public Health. To ensure safety and encourage physical distancing, they have made some temporary changes to our programs and events.

24/7 Crisis Services: If you’re feeling overwhelmed and confused, please know that you are not alone. Their Helpline remains open 24/7 for calls and texts at 877-870-4673. Their incredible Helpline volunteers will be working remotely to answer the calls and texts from people who are struggling.

Grief Support Services: In light of recommendations for physical distancing, SafePlace meetings will be held virtually via Zoom until they’re able to resume meeting in person. Meetings will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 pm – 8 pm. Please visit their Grief Support Services page for information on virtual SafePlace meetings.

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Care for your Coronavirus Anxiety

Check out these resources for anxiety and your mental health in a global climate of uncertainty.

Network of Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Service Providers in MA

CWC has launched Emotional Support & Resource Referral Helplines! Folks anywhere can call-in Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm to speak to a volunteer about anything on their mind or any situation they need help with. Call (617) 354-6394 or (617) 354-8807 and dial ‘1’ for emotional support and ‘2’ for resource referrals. This is a new remote system so please bear with us as they work out any kinks! You can always leave them a message and they will get back to you as soon as possible.

Expressing Your World: Free Art Therapy for Youth

Zach, a Boston 6th grader, created this wonderful Art Therapy Workbook and he would like to share it with everyone. The workbook includes exercises to help young people explore their emotions and experiences, through breathing and art exercises. Here’s the workbook if you or a young person you know could use it. Zach asks that you fill out the short 4 question survey at the end.

Peer Support x PureSpark

Moderator: Nieisha Deed, A Mental Health Advocate with lived Experience, A Public Speaker unafraid to speak authenically, and the Founder of PureSpark “Helping you find your spark in the darkness”

What is a peer Support Group?

Peer Support is a group of supportive peers typically led by someone who has a close relationship with the group topic. Peer support by PureSpark is looking to support:

-peers that may currently be living with a mental illness,
-peers that have a loved one who is living with a mental illness,
-peers that have experienced symptoms of a mental illness in the past,
-peers that may be experiencing “unfavorable” emotions/feelings during a stressful time (i.e. COVID-19).

Roxbury Presbyterian Church

No matter what you are feeling right now, whether fear and overwhelm from the Coronavirus crisis or anxiety and sadness from other traumatic loss, The Cory Johnson Program remains committed to offering support and connection.

During these challenging times, they offer CAN WE TALK? weekly by phone. As this is a group experience, it is a phone version of a ‘drop-in’ program. Anyone can call if you want you can share your feelings and thoughts for 2-3 minutes. While there isn’t time for everyone to share, know that listening is active support for everyone on the call. They start with music and begin sharing with a poem. Like their in-person program, the CAN WE TALK? phone call offers support within the community.

Over 20 licensed therapists and growing volunteering their time to listen to anyone who needs a little help to get through this time. We have many languages represented, and underserved communities, as well. Inshallah, we are able to add a little more to the world in a positive manner in this trying time.

MACDC

The Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) issued initial state policy recommendations focused on the most vulnerable people and small businesses in our communities. MACDC has a laser focus on ensuring an equitable response to the crisis and encourages you to review and comment on these policy recommendations, which call for $150 million of relief for small businesses, emergency measures to ensure housing stability, and initiatives to support the nonprofit sector. Then contact your state legislators and ask them to do the same as soon as possible.

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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City of Boston

If you know anyone who is worried about paying rent if their income has been affected by COVID19, please have them reach out to the Office of Housing Stability.

During this incredibly difficult time, the Boston Housing Authority is calling on all owners of rental properties to assist us in helping Boston families find stable housing. The Boston Housing Authority has hundreds of voucher holder families actively seeking housing. Many of these families include children enrolled in Boston Public Schools and are in shelter or otherwise homeless. Now more than ever, it is incredibly important to provide these families with stable housing and decrease the shelter population in order to alleviate overcrowding and enable social distancing.

Affordable housing providers led a voluntary moratorium on evictions and rent increases that has been featured in the national media. Housing providers are working together to anticipate resident needs and share resources, policy suggestions and strategies for ensuring the safety, health and economic security of residents. Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) has compiled an excellent list of housing and other resources and is convening weekly virtual meetings on Fridays at 2 to discuss housing responses needed. LISC is offering flexibility to its borrowers, and short term bridge loans to speed access to funding for those awarded Federal, State or Local Government business disruption support. Click hereor contact Margaret Keaveny (mkeaveny@lisc.org) for more regarding LISC lending’s response. LISC is also working to respond to the housing stability needs of communities affected by the crisis and advance broader housing solutions in this changing context.

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MetroHousing Boston

Metro Housing|Boston’s Housing Supports department includes many programs, activities, and resources that can help prevent eviction and homelessness. These initiatives are funded by public contracts and private grants and donations, and help low-income renters to achieve housing stability and better lives.

If you feel you are at risk of being evicted or facing a situation that may result in homelessness, your first point of contact should be with our Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC). There is no income limit to participate.

Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)

The state-funded RAFT program is a tool used by the HCEC team to provide eligible households or individuals up to $4,000 per 12-month period that can be used to help keep their housing, obtain new housing, or otherwise avoid becoming homeless.

FOR DETAILS ON THE RAFT APPLICATION PROCESS AND TO ACCESS THE PRE-APPLICATION FORM, CLICK HERE.

Section 8 Voucher Holders

If you are a participant in the Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) and need assistance, please contact the Leased Housing Gateway Team at gateway@MetroHousingBoston.org or by calling 617.425.6611.

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Financial Education Associates

Homebuying Classes

HB101 – Homebuying 101 is an 8-hour course over 2 or 4 days to prepare first-time homebuyers for homeownership.

Topics covered include:

​Information on preparing for the mortgage process

First time homebuyer mortgages

How to find a home

The legal aspects of buying a home

How to work with professionals during the homebuying process?

Graduates of this course are given a certificate that allows access to financial assistance

mortgages, home ownership lotteries, and lender first-time homebuyer mortgages. The

certificate is accepted statewide for first-time homebuyer education.

​Each person attending must purchase 1 ticket for the series. All sessions listed in the title must be

attended for the certificate. Refunds up to 7 days before the start of class. Makeup class attendance permitted. Sales end when the event is at capacity or at ticket sales end date.

​To register, select your class:

​ These classes are held by webinar on Zoom for the foreseeable future. Meeting instructions will be provided the day before the class. If you want to make up a past class, email jackie@money-classes.com for meeting instructions.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals who are unable to work because of a COVID-19-related reason but are not eligible for regular or extended unemployment benefits.

The Boston Black Hospitality Coalition aims to preserve the few gathering spaces for the city’s many black residents – our neighborhood bars & restaurants. Our businesses play a critical role in community and economic development. Highlighting this we seek to ensure a prolonged future for our black-owned institutions.

THE FUTURE OF BOSTON’S BLACK OWNED RESTAURANTS & BARS

STATE OF EMERGENCY

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every member of our community, the country, and the world. During this devastating public health crisis, we are also forced to grapple with an economic crisis that has disrupted our livelihoods and significantly undermined the financial security of our most vulnerable community members. BBHC in partnership with the NAACP – Boston Branch, and on behalf of Boston’s black-owned restaurants and bars, some of which have lost more than 90% of their revenue in the effort to abide by local, state, and federal social distancing guidelines, is asking for support to ensure that these businesses will continue to exist long after this crisis is over.

As it stands, there are 8 black-owned liquor licenses in the city of Boston. All of them representing decades of advocacy from our elected officials and community-based organizations. Unless a strategic response is implemented immediately, our businesses – neighborhood anchors and pillars that represent an iconic legacy of black entrepreneurship and community development in Boston – will be forced to close their doors forever. [1]

90% of our business revenue came from onsite consumption that is no longer possible due to stay-at-home advisories and social distancing guidance;

83% of our businesses are located in Roxbury;

75% of our customer base is people of color (“POC”);

88% of our primarily POC workforce was laid off during this crisis, affecting 116 households;

$1.2 million dollars of estimated lost revenue for the period from March, April, and May 2020

100% of our businesses will have to consider closing doors for good if the status quo continues.[2]

BBHC appreciates the ongoing community and government efforts to support all small businesses during this time. However, to date, the black-owned restaurants and bars represented by this coalition have not received adequate financial support to survive this crisis. Our businesses have an arduous path ahead of us, and the BBHC needs our community’s help. BBHC is challenging city and state officials, public and private institutions and individuals with the ability to make a difference to do their part to ensure our historic businesses and dedicated employees can weather this storm and be here to serve our friends, families, and communities once the storm clears.

If nothing is done, the representatives of the coalition will be faced with a financial decision that would ultimately result in the closure of institutions who contributed to the combined 180+ years of service to Boston’s Black community.

Together we can overcome this crisis and preserve every aspect of Boston’s rich history, including its historic black-owned restaurants and bars.

[1]The importance of ensuring that this community’s black-owned restaurants and bars survive this period of economic hardship cannot be overemphasized. Prior to this crisis, black-owned restaurants and bars were already grossly underrepresented within Greater Boston’s robust restaurant and hospitality industry. For example, of the 745 restaurants and bars with full alcoholic beverage licenses, only 3are black-owned (i.e., less than 1%). According to the U.S Department of Commerce, as of 2012, only 4,463 businesses that fall within the accommodation and food services industry were minority-owned (as compared to the 13,705 non-minority-owned businesses). Moreover, only 9% of those 4,463 minority-owned businesses are considered black-owned.

[2]This data was provided by the members of the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition who are listed here.

Navigating employment remedies and unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic can be confusing. The Victim Rights Law Center attorneys are still helping survivors with their employment needs and monitoring changes to employment policies that affect survivors’ options. Visit their website for more information on employment remedies for survivors, or contact them for help.

While the state application is only in English (despite many previous and current efforts to rectify this), the Pioneer Valley Workers Center in Northampton created an online tool to translate the UI application into Spanish. They’re working on a Portuguese translation as well!

The federal government passed a law providing financial help due to the disruption from the COVID-19 crisis (CARES Act). There are $1,200 payments available to help provide some financial assistance to most Americans.Can I get the Stimulus (Economic Impact) Payment?

Yes, you can!

If you do not get any benefits or help from the government you can still get the stimulus check. If you are a single individual you should get up to $1,200. Those with children may qualify for more.

If you do not file taxes because you make no or very little money (under $12,200 per year), you can provide your information to the IRS and receive the federal stimulus money. Most will get the $1,200.

If you have a bank account and can provide your banking account number and routing number to the IRS, you will get your money sooner. Click here to open a non-predatory bank account. If you need help you can call BTHC staffer, Michael at 617-918-5279

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WorkShare Program

WorkShare is designed to help both employers and workers during a temporary slowdown in business. Instead of laying off workers, your employer can apply for the WorkShare program. Under WorkShare, you will work reduced hours and receive unemployment benefits along with your reduced wages. All workers in the same plan must share the same percentage reduction in their regular work hours. Reductions may range from 10% to 60%.

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Restaurant Strong Fund

The Greg Hill Foundation has teamed up with Samuel Adams* to support those from the Massachusetts restaurant industry who have been impacted by the COVID-19 closures. Their goal is to provide $1,000 grants to as many qualifying grantees as possible.

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One Fair Wage – Emergency Coronavirus and Tipped and Service Worker Support Fund

One Fair Wage is providing cash assistance to restaurant workers, car service drivers, delivery workers, personal service workers and more who need the money they aren’t getting to survive. Are you a restaurant worker, delivery driver, or Uber/Lyft driver who has been affected by coronavirus and the economic downturn? One Fair Wage is here to help. Sign up for assistance here .

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Restaurant Workers Community Foundation

Restaurant Workers Community Foundation was founded in 2018 to advocate for gender equality, racial justice, fair wages, and healthy work environments in the restaurant industry. In the wake of the coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic, RWCF’s full focus is on supporting workers, small business owners, and an industry in crisis.

Restaurant workers make up 10 percent of America’s workforce, and they are among the country’s most vulnerable populations. More than 2.45 million restaurant workers live in poverty, and only 14 percent receive employer-sponsored health benefits.

As restaurants across the country cut hours, suspend business, and close for good, many restaurant workers will be faced with long-term loss of income. For months to come, they will need help accessing government benefits and mental health services, paying their rent, and feeding their families.

Immediately direct money to organizations leading on-the-ground efforts in the restaurant community.

To bolster their impact investing budget to provide zero-interest loans to businesses to maintain payroll during closure or re-open once this crisis has passed.

To establish a relief fund for individual workers facing economic hardships or health crises as a direct result of COVID-19.

RESOURCES for RESTAURANTS and WORKERS : RWCF is compiling an extensive list of resources and links related to the COVID-19 Crisis on its website, and, soon, they will collect data (qualitative and quantitative) from affected workers and restaurant owners so that they can work with local and national leaders to address the systemic issues the COVID19 pandemic has exposed.

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Bartender Emergency Fund Program

Please read through the Selection Criteria and Eligibility Requirements for the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program and if you believe that you are eligible, please fill out the application making sure to include the required supporting documents.

You do NOT need to be a USBG member to apply for a philanthropic grant.

LISC partners providing career-building support, financial coaching, income supports and credit-building have had to transition to working remotely, expanding distance-learning, coaching, and employment services in order to best serve their clients, who need their services now more than ever. Their Boston Builds Credit team is considering the credit impacts of this crisis and developing guidance and policy strategies for mitigating negative credit implications for vulnerable populations as a result of the economic impacts of this crisis.

Coronavirus and Equity

Communities that are already facing marginalization are being hardest hit by the virus and its economic repercussions, starkly exposing inequities. The Massachusetts Public Health Association has formed an emergency task force to address equity issues. LISC supports their proposed policies to ensure equitable access to emergency sick time, access to safe quarantine, moratoria on evictions, foreclosures, and terminations of public benefits. The Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance has modified an existing funding opportunity for grassroots and community organizations to make funds available for short-term campaigns to respond to emergent health equity and housing needs in the face of COVID-19. Contact Kelsey Salmon-Schreck, at the Conservation Law Foundation , ksalmonschreck@clf.org , for more information – applications are due April 3.

JobGet is the fastest job platform for anyone looking for a job in the retail and hospitality industry, reducing the timeline from weeks to minutes. Getting a job shouldn’t take hours filling online applications and waiting for weeks to hear back.

As a community development corporation, MPDC comprehends the economic hardships of small contractors during COVID-19. Many MWBE contractors have found it challenging to access grants, funds, and unemployment assistance currently being offered by state and federal agencies.

Made possible by a grant from Life Science Cares and spearheaded by Katrina Conrad, MPDC’s Workforce Diversity Project Manager, the MWBE Contractor Relief Fund offers a one-time relief grant of up to $2,500 to qualified MWBE contractors who have been affected by COVID-19. The fund is open to Greater Boston-based MWBE contractors that currently have a city of Boston monitored project, employ ten or less, and did not qualify for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.

The City of Boston encourages you to find the State of Massachusetts full list of “COVID-19 Essential Services” here.

Restaurants, bars, and other establishments that sell food and beverage products to the public are encouraged to continue to offer food for take-out and by delivery, if they follow the social distancing protocols set forth in the Department of Public Health’s guidance. On-premises consumption of food or drink is prohibited.

The Licensing Board for the City of Boston has provided this advisory regarding the status of the prohibition of on-premise consumption of food and alcohol, the limitation on capacity, and the closure of non-essential businesses.

This Advisory is mandatory and applies to both licensees holding a common victualler food only license and those holding a common victualler with alcoholic beverages license. Any failure to adhere to the Order or the Advisory will result in disciplinary action by the Board which may include, but not be limited to, the immediate suspension of the license.

The City of Boston has launched a website for residents to find local restaurants that remain open for take-out and delivery service during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. If your business is open for delivery and want to let the public know, be sure to sign up on Support Boston Restaurants

The Boston Transportation Dept. is creating temporary pick up zones in front of restaurants that have transitioned to takeout only or businesses that have increased delivery needs. If you would like to request a take-out/delivery zone in front of your business, please visit Boston.gov/takeout-zones.

The City of Boston has also created a Financial Relief Handbook and FAQ document for small businesses. It’s a resource for navigating both public and private capital programs. It puts information and guidance about all the different programs together in one place.

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The Empowerment Grant for Small Businesses

The State Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE) is proud to offer The Empowerment Grant for Small Businesses as an acknowledgment of the devastating economic impact that the COVID -19 pandemic has had on the Massachusetts small business community.

The Empowerment Grant Program aims to support the well-being and continuity of small businesses by providing access to capital and empowerment through engaging in OEE resources.

Grant resources will be focused on small business owners serving Massachusetts Gateway Cities. The State Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment encourages minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and/or immigrant-owned small businesses located in gateway communities to apply.

For details, please see Section III of the Program Summary. Applicants are encouraged to illustrate how they can utilize funds to support initiatives that will allow them to continue operating during and/or after the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants may request up to $2,500 for the proposed need.

The Institute for Non-Profit Practice

INP recently announced The Tomorrow Fund, a movement to help nonprofit and community leaders, especially leaders of color, rebuild, reimagine, and restore as they navigate the monumental challenges that lie ahead.

INP was built to empower leaders to work together, across differences, to solve intractable social and environmental problems. They were founded to fundamentally disrupt the status quo and ensure that nonprofit leadership is exponentially more effective, connected, equitable, and diverse. As our nation confronts systemic racism and oppression, it is more critical than ever that leaders have access to the information, experts, and community they need to expedite social change.

That’s why, with the support of generous donors who believe in the power and potential of nonprofit leaders, they will, for the first time in our history, waive tuition for every student in the class of 2021.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about their award-winning leadership programs, we encourage you to join them for a virtual information session.

TSNE is gathering a list of resources for nonprofits that may be able to provide relief or assistance during this challenging time. This is not a complete list and TSNE will continue to make updates here as more resources become available.

BECMA, in collaboration with IncluDeand The Sofenomenal Agency Group, launched PROTECT MA — an online marketplace that will connect Black and Latinx designers, developers, producers, and manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE) to businesses that need it. This effort is meant to allow businesses to not only protect the health of our communities but also generate wealth to sustain them.

Women’s Foundation of Boston Response Fund

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Women’s Foundation of Boston has launched a new fund to support women and girls in Greater Boston. In Boston, as in most cities, the most vulnerable are disproportionately women and girls. We know that women and girls in Greater Boston face growing challenges over the next few months and beyond. A public health emergency such as COVID-19 dramatically increases the risks for women and girls already in poverty. Current partners who would like to request a relief grant to mitigate the impact of the global Coronavirus crisis on their operations should fill out and submit a COVID-19 Response Fund Letter of Inquiry.

New England Grass Roots Environment Fund’s

Available for community-driven efforts (volunteer-driven, guidelines of budget <$100k & no more than 2 full-time staff equivalents), with a minimum of 3 people involved. The project must respond to a need as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The deadline is on a rolling basis. ​More info: here, or email tess@grassrootsfund.org with questions.

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Massachusetts Nonprofit Network

Philanthropic and governments across Massachusetts are setting up funds to support organizations and communities that have been impacted by the coronavirus. See below for a list of funds. MNN is updating this list as often as possible.

Nellie Mae Foundation

The Nellie Mae Education Foundation created this rapid response fund to respond to the hate crimes and bias against Asian American communities resulting from COVID-19. The Foundation has allocated resources for the Racism is a Virus Too rapid response grant fund to support Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) that provide services for AAPI communities. Download the RFP here.

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Philanthropy Massachusetts

Many small businesses have had to shut their doors to stem the spread of the virus, and others have had to adapt quickly to doing business remotely or in other ways that avoid personal contact. The impact on small and minority-owned businesses has the potential to be catastrophic.

The LISC Small Business Recovery Grant Program for Massachusetts is now open. This program will provide grants to hard-hit small businesses in Massachusetts to weather the immediate financial impact of closures and social distancing measures required to slow the spread of COVID-19.

LISC is pivoting the focus of its small business assistance programs and seeking resources to provide emergency funding and strategic technical assistance.

A $2.5 million investment from Verizon will help LISC to begin offering critical relief and resiliency-building support, especially to entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically under-served places.

Mass Cultural Council released the results of their online survey of artists and arts & culture organizations created to assess the dire impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts & culture community. They are urging state legislators to pass measures that will address the needs of our community to mitigate the devastating economic loss we face.

The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture

The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture in the City of Boston has announced a call for proposals for transformative public art projects. More info here.

Please fill out this survey from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture and MassCREATIVE. It’s open to all artists and cultural workers based in MA and will provide invaluable data that we can use for advocacy and designing future supports.

The Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture is hosting a weekly meeting for individual artists from anywhere in the Greater Boston area. The link to join is here.

The Record Co.

The Record Co. has established the Boston Music Maker Relief Fund to provide financial relief to Boston area music makers experience lost income as the result of performance cancellations related to COVID-19.

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met is launching #CongressSaveCulture, a campaign to support broader efforts advocating for financial relief for non-profit arts organizations to be included in the $2 trillion stimulus package currently being debated in Congress. The relief package is expected to include funding for many industries impacted by COVID-19, including airlines, casinos, cruise ships, and more.

There are three relatively simple things you can do now:

1. Go to the American Alliance of Museums website and send a letter to your representatives in Congress

2. Share the hashtag #CongressSaveCulture on your social platforms (along with a comment or photo that reflects your passion for The Met and/or all the arts)

New Atlantic Development / Opportunity for Roxbury Artists

The development project at 2147 Washington is including a 4,000 square foot common workspace/makerspace. The developers are looking speak with artists about what types of equipment are most useful. They will have several permanent and temporary art installation opportunities to include elements in their building and courtyard design that would best facilitate a variety of installation types. View more information about the project here.

If you are interested in learning more or participating in the formal conversations contact:

Americans for the Arts

#Powerof3Challenge

The #Powerof3Challenge is a social media creative challenge where artists post a video spreading truth and creativity through music and tagging 3 other creator friends who can step up to the challenge. (thus spreading an infectious message.) http://Powerof3Challenge.com

The Theater Offensive

The Theater Offensive has launched a new relief fund for artists who apply as queer and/or trans people of color, and also for past participants in their youth programming. Check out how to apply here.